Star-studded night boasts fireworks display visible from space
Bloomberg Nov 21, 08 1:28 PM CST
(Newser)
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Rich and famous people from around the world avoided the recession blues last night by flocking to a ridiculously extravagant party on a man-made island in Dubai, Bloomberg reports. Boasting a performance from Kylie Minogue and a fireworks display that could be seen from space, the party was the emirate’s latest play to retain its super-luxe reputation even as massive debt threatens to burst its bubble.
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GLOSSIES
Booming reality counters talk of bubble in Middle East's 'Manhattan'
New York Nov 17, 08 1:55 PM CST
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Back in Texas, Brooke Butler’s friends are worrying about their homes and jobs. Butler has other worries. “I’m thinking it’ll take about 5 years to make a million now,” the 24-year-old saleswoman tells New York . “It’s not that difficult over here.” Here is Dubai, the Persian Gulf emirate with a real-estate and investment boom seemingly immune to the world’s economic crisis.
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Still have a job? Thumb your nose at thrift with a $1600 office chair
GigaOm Nov 6, 08 1:25 PM CST
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With a "bah!" to the financial crisis, furniture manufacturer Herman Miller has introduced a chair that costs $1,600—making you “all the more comfortable as you sit for eight hours staring in disbelief at your plummeting stock portfolio,” writes Stacey Higginibotham on GigaOm. The Embody, a follow-up to the popular Aeron ($949), claims to promote “health-positive sitting,” with surfaces designed to distribute weight evenly.
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Chain's 'Whole Paycheck' nickname becomes albatross in downturn
New York Times Aug 5, 08 6:00 PM CDT
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Whole Foods is attempting to lose its reputation for high prices as shoppers increasingly look for thrift, the New York Times reports. The economic slump has changed shopping patterns: A July survey estimated that 20% of US shoppers have switched to cheaper grocery stores. Whole Foods has cut prices and offers employee tours with tips for bargain-hunting.
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Affluent Americans
still snapping up fancy watches, jewelry
Wall Street Journal Jul 26, 08 2:22 PM CDT
(Newser)
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If America’s economy is failing, at least it’s going down in style. Sales of luxury goods have been surprisingly strong this year, despite the overarching economic gloom, the Wall Street Journal reports. Brands such as Hermès and Burberry have seen double-digit growth, as Americans continue to snap up expensive jewelry, Swiss watches, and French scarves, and fast-growing developing economies produce more wealthy buyers.
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Never mind $150 oil, how about the $200 hamburger?
ABC News Jun 19, 08 3:43 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Burger King has concocted a luxury burger with a whopping $190 price tag, reports ABC News. "The Burger" features Wagyu beef garnished with truffles and onion straws fried in Cristal champagne in a saffron-dusted bun. The bold, limited edition tantalizer is being offered once a week at a single Burger King in London. The fast food chain is donating all proceeds to a charity helping poor children.
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NY's richest tremble as they cut back on life's luxuries
New York Times May 31, 08 2:10 PM CDT
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Think you’ve got it bad in these tough times? Then consider the swarms of Wall Street bankers and Upper East Side developers whose income has slid along with the nation’s economy. Lawyers, art advisers, personal trainers, and hairstylists to the privileged say their clients gripe about having to cut back on $350 highlights and $10,000-an-hour jet rentals.
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Why do anything if you can hire someone to do it for you?
W May 4, 08 2:49 PM CDT
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Time is truly the currency of the rich, and W offers tips on today's ultimate luxury. How to save a few of those grains in the hourglass: Delegate: Outsourcing isn’t just for heartless CEOs—pay people to break in your smoking jackets for you. Don’t bother with books: Enlist a minion to do the reading, then give you the highlights.
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Owners spare no expense in funerals
for pampered pets
Chicago Tribune Apr 25, 08 10:29 AM CDT
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The family files into the chapel, signs the registry, and pays its respects before the coffin. It looks much like a normal funeral parlor, and it is—just not for humans. Instead Oak Rest Pet Gardens in Georgia buries beloved pets, charging $2,000 or more for the service. “Most people couldn't care less about the money when they come in,” says the funeral director. “They want what they want.”
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Global economic downturn? What global economic downturn?
Reuters Apr 19, 08 2:14 PM CDT
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As the global economy falters, many people are fighting to make ends meet. And then there’s the Chinese billionaire who spent $500,000 for 27 bottles of wine today. The sale set a record for a single lot. “I don’t think he has bought this as an investment,” said an executive from the selling company. “He has bought it to drink.”
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New stadiums taking private boxes to the next level
Forbes Mar 27, 08 2:45 PM CDT
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Private boxes are great on game day, and sports clubs are taking it to the next level, giving well-heeled fans super-sumptuous treatment—in return for deluxe bucks. Forbes rundowns some of the priciest stadium suites: Yankee Stadium’s Legend Suites: $2,500 per front row seat per game, or $1 million for a 5-year contract Nationals Parks Washington Suites: $400,000-plus per year, private porch included
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Gold Class Cinemas brings luxury moviegoing stateside
Variety Mar 26, 08 12:14 PM CDT
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Think your movie-going experience could be more than sticky floors and greasy popcorn? Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas agrees. The high-end theater chain is making its debut in America, offering a bar selling cocktails and sushi, reclining lazy-boy style seats (with service buttons to call waiters), and valet parking for the deluxe price of $35 a ticket, Variety reports.
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Forbes runs down the luxury brands we most desire
Forbes Mar 25, 08 5:01 PM CDT
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Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates may actually buy the most designer goods, but when money is no object, we’ve all got expensive tastes. One research group asked 25,000 consumers to forget about price tags and name the luxury brand they covet most. Forbes runs down the top 10: Gucci Chanel (tied)
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Iraqi ruler had a thing for luxurious, bulletproof cruise ships
New York Post Dec 26, 07 2:37 PM CST
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Saddam Hussein’s secret pleasure super-yacht can be yours—yes, yours!—for just $34 million. Moored off the French Riviera, away from the pesky bombers that destroyed the late dictator's other yacht, the Ocean Breeze was put up for sale last week by a British brokerage firm, the New York Post reports. The lucky buyer gets both a floating palace and a veritable fortress.
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Pricey pads will double as clubs
for big-bucks collectors
San Jose Mercury News Sep 12, 07 12:52 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Silicon Valley millionaires (and billionaires) are gearing up for the latest status symbol in Status Symbol Land—condominiums devoted to storing luxury cars. Condos will start at $250,000, and the sites will also offer "club rooms" where guys can talk about cars. "There are more collectors here than anywhere because of money and weather," said the director of a local car show.
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Luxury, back-to-school shoppers drive August figures up
MarketWatch Sep 6, 07 3:09 PM CDT
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Better-than-expected retail sales figures for August, which built on healthy back-to-school and luxury shopping, raised hopes today that turbulent markets won't take too big of a bite out of holiday-season sales. Wal-Mart and Target made out well, as did luxury emporiums such as Saks. "It bodes well for Christmas," one analyst tells MarketWatch.
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